Ilocos Norte under state of calamity

INFRASTRUCTURE took a beating from powerful typhoon “Mina,” which wasted a number of bridges and destroyed many roads as it punished Northern Luzon.

Eight persons were reported dead, mostly children who drowned or were buried in landslides, while six others were missing, according to the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council. Officials believe the number of fatalities will rise as reports from remote areas lashed by the typhoon trickle in.

Two children died when a mountain of trash cascaded in Irisan, Benguet. Piles of garbage buried three houses, killing Rebullar Flores, 13, and Apolinario Flores, 10. The children’s grandmother was reported missing. Meanwhile, Floro Soliben was buried alive when a landslide hit the makeshift tent of pocket miners in Mount Emirald, Kias.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the immediate clearing of the pile of garbage along the Baguio-Asin road.

In Barangay Sto. Tomas Apugan, Alex Magno died after a tree fell on him at the height of the typhoon while Apolonio Licupa of Liwan West Rizal, Kalinga drowned after falling off a wooden bridge.

The NDRRMC said eight bridges were destroyed and 20 major roads were rendered impassable, mostly in Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos and Benguet.

A state of calamity was declared in Ilocos Norte. Gov. Imee Marcos sought the assistance of the NDRRMC as several areas in the region remain flooded.

The death toll and damage to infrastructure and agriculture is expected to rise as officials assess the full impact of the storm, said Emilia Tadeo of the civil defense.

“After the rains have subsided, that is only when we find the additional casualties and damages, when the local responders submit them to us,” Tadeo said.

A passenger bus fell into a ravine in Halsema Highway in Tublay, Benguet. The driver and 18 passengers were able to get off the bus before the bus plunged, officials said.

The typhoon was so strong that it affected Regions 1, 2,3, 5, 6 and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Almost 20,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to the risk of floods and landslides in the mountainous north.

Flashfloods hit several villages in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan.

‘Mina’ had weakened but the weather bureau said residents in low-lying areas should still watch out for floods as rains will continue in most parts of Luzon. The typhoon   accelerated slightly as it continues to move North Northwestward with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and Gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Batanes Group of Island remains under storm signal number 3 while signal number 2 was hoisted over the Babuyan Group of Islands, Calayan Group of Islands

Ilocos Norte. Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, and Ilocos Sur are under signal number 1.

Malacañang said the Department of Social Welfare and Development is ready to provide assistance to people affected by the typhoon.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the DSWD and NDDRMC are in close coordination with local government units and have prepositioned relief goods and prepared evacuation centers for typhoon victims.                                          

With Efren Montano